Schools to go tobacco-free

Henrico County public schools and school-sponsored events soon will be entirely tobacco-free, following the School Board's 4-1 vote Sept. 27 to enact a tobacco-free policy.

The policy likely will not take effect officially for a period of at least a few months, so that staff members and visitors who smoke or use tobacco have time to become adjusted to it.

Board member Lisa Marshall of the Tuckahoe District cast the dissenting vote.

More than 30 other school systems in the state – including Hanover County – already have similar tobacco policies. Henrico school officials believe the policy will promote healthier environments for students, staff members and visitors alike while encouraging healthier lifestyles at the same time and serving as a reinforcement to students about the dangers of tobacco.

Existing HCPS policy allowed individual principals to set their own conditions for tobacco and cigarette use on their campuses by adults, staff members and visitors. Twenty-four elementary schools in the county, three middle schools, five high schools and two specialty facilities already banned all tobacco use on their campuses prior to
the board's vote last week. Other schools and specialty centers allowed smoking in designated areas.

The change is not without detractors. About a third of the 1,263 faculty members who responded to a school system survey last month said they favored the existing policy, while two-thirds said they favored the new one.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88, stopped at Richmond Raceway Aug. 8 in advance of the track’s NASCAR weekend in September. He was joined by five players from the Washington Redskins, who were in town for the team's training camp, which concluded Aug. 14. The day in Richmond gave Earnhardt and the Redskins players an opportunity to see how the athletes compete in their respective sports. > Read more.

The READ Center is a top-200 cause finalist in State Farm’s Neighborhood Assist program, making it eligible to earn a $25,000 grant to support adult literacy in the Richmond region. The 40 organizations from across the nation with the most votes will win grants.

The READ Center, based in Henrico, provides classroom instruction and one-to-one tutoring to adults with very low literacy. > Read more.

The host Glen Allen 14-year-old all-star baseball team won two of its first three games in pool play at the 14-year-old Babe Ruth World Series, which is it hosting at RF&P Stadium in Glen Allen. The team beat the Midwest Plains champions, 9-4, in its first game Aug. 10, then topped the Southwest champions, 7-3, Aug. 11 before dropping a 5-4 result to the Ohio Valley champions. > Read more.

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Singing trio The Lettermen will perform at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at The Tin Pan, 8982 Quioccasin Rd. The Lettermen had their first hit in 1961 with “The Way You Look Tonight.” With over 10,000 sold-out shows, 18 Gold albums and scores of top singles to their credit, The Lettermen harmony is non-stop. The current Lettermen consist of Tony Butala (the group’s founding original member), Donovan Tea (singer-songwriter who joined in 1984) and Bobby Poynton (who first joined The Lettermen in 1989 and recently returned). Tickets are $55 in advance and $60 at the door. For details, call 447-8189 or visit http://www.tinpanrva.com.
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